Murder in Mesopotamia is another book that came out of Christie's first-hand experience of working on archaeological sites with her husband. The setting of this book is the excavation a large Assyrian city about a day and a half’s journey from Baghdad. The book is narrated by Miss Amy Leatheran, a thirty-two year old nurse … Continue reading Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie (1936)
Middle East
They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie (1951)
‘Outside in Bank Street it was sunny and full of swirling dust and the noises were terrific and varied. There was the persistent honking of motor horns, the cries of vendors of various wares. There were hot disputes between small groups of people who seemed ready to murder each other but were really fast friends; … Continue reading They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie (1951)
The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall
The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World was published this year (2021) and is a sequel to Prisoners of Geography which I wrote about here.In that book Tim Marshall focused on the fact that geography has played a major role in history. In this new book he explores ten … Continue reading The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall
Our High School Archaeological Studies
The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Gods, Graves & Scholars: The Story of Archaeology by C.W. Ceram I’ve used this book in the past with my older ones and it’s very good. Ceram, a journalist and not an archeologist, traces the development of a highly specialised science in a way that the ordinary person can read … Continue reading Our High School Archaeological Studies
Nothing Else Matters by Patricia St John (1919-1993)
Patricia St John has been called 'a poet of forgiveness,' and you don't have to look any further than the wonderful stories she wrote for young children to understand why. Tanglewood's Secret (1948), Treasures of the Snow (1950), Star of Light (1953) and Rainbow Garden (1960), are just a few of the powerful, engrossing and … Continue reading Nothing Else Matters by Patricia St John (1919-1993)
Living Books for Studying Ancient Egypt
A friend asked me if I could suggest some books for the study of Ancient Egypt in high school (Grades 7 and up in Australia). There are lots of factual type books available and some good historical fiction titles for younger children but not nearly as many books for older children that could be called … Continue reading Living Books for Studying Ancient Egypt
The Tragedy of the Korosko by Arthur Conan Doyle (1898)
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in 1859. After finishing school he went on to study medicine and later moved to the south of England to set up a medical practice. It was here that he started to focus on his writing and where he met his future wife, Louise. About nine years after … Continue reading The Tragedy of the Korosko by Arthur Conan Doyle (1898)
Greenmantle by John Buchan
John Buchan (1875-1940) is one of my favourite authors. I enjoy his dry humour, the sense of mystery in his stories, his exotic characters and the many allusions to Biblical characters and places throughout his books which add a richness and depth not found in more recent books. Greenmantle is the second book which features … Continue reading Greenmantle by John Buchan
journey & destination 